Improvement in switch-locking devices



R. L. PATTON.

improvement in Sw'itch-Lockig Devices.

No. 132,597. Patented Oct. 29,1872.

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REMEMBRANCE L. PATTON, OF HAMBURG, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SWITCH-LOCKING DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,597, dated October 29, 1872.

To all whom it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, REMEMBRANCE L. PAT- TON, of Hamburg, in the county of Fremont, State of Iowa, have invented an Improvement in Switch-Lookin g Devices for Railroads, ot' which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improved method of lookin g the vertical lever connected with the bar or rod by which the switch is moved upon the cross-ties to change from one track to another; and consistsy in arranging a spring lock or catch within the ordinary bolt by which the switch-lever is confined, so that said bolt cannot be withdrawn without the use of a key. The lever is thus firmly locked in a manner impossible to be tampered with when the bolt is in its proper position.

In the drawing, Figure l represents the bolt in position; Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the improved bolt; Fig. 3 repre sents a view of the switch-lever arranged for locking; and Fig. et represents a plan view of Fig. 3.

The bolt A is made hollow, and has at one end a Iilletor band, A', forming a shoulder designed to press against the segment-bar Y when the bolt is inserted in order to prevent the same from being inserted too far. Within is a spring-catch bolt, shaped like an L, having the end e beveled on the outside and square to the side of the cylinder. This latch is operated by means of a key which is carried by the switch-operator. The key may be in any of the usual forms. The said latch-bolt engages with a slot, X, `formed in the segment Y when the bolt is properly inserted, thus entirely preventing the withdrawal of the bolt until operated upon by the key. It will be observed that in this arrangement of locking on the side where the shoulder is formed the operator stands on the same side without moving to change the switch, and this constitutes an important feature in-my invention.

I claim- The hollow bolt A having the shoulder A', in combination with the locking spring-latch C for holding and locking a railroad switchlever both at the same time, substantially as and for the purpose described.

This specification signed at Washington, D. C., this 30th day of August, 1872.

REM-EMBRANGE L. IATTON.

Witnesses:

W. T. BURR, GEO. W. PEAnsoN. 

